Honeymoon in Samoa

My fiance and I are honeymooning in Samoa, spending 7 nights from Sept 9 (Sunday - Samoa time)

Firstly, we are aware of the warnings on Thorn Tree and would prefer to exclude these from this topic, many thanks.

Our questions are:

1) We arrive the day after the South Pacific Games finish - what effect is this likely to have in?
2) Given that we have 7 nights, are we better to stay in Suvaii or Upolu's South Coast, or the best of both? What are the pros and cons, excluding the dogs and theft issues please.
3) We arrive at 2:35pm, do we need to spend a night in Apia?
4) Has anyone stayed here - http://www.lusiaslagoonchalets.ws/ (in the honeymoon chalet?) or here http://www.virgin-cove.ws/accommodation.htm<BR>5) Any other accom recommendations - we are experience travellers - having backpacked for 5 years, however this is our honeymoon, so looking for something unique in the ST$150-ST$300 range.
6) Suggestions for Snorkel, Dive, Surf, Other??

Cheers

1) The effect after the Games - well no one really knows. Everything will probably return to normal. Accommodation might be cheaper.

2) Best of both i would say. Maybe a few more days in Savaii than Upolu

3) Yes you'll have to spend a night in Apia, well Upolu. Theres a couple of resorts close to the airport including Aggie Greys Resort and Samoan Village Resort - then catch the ferry the next day - close by as well.

4)have heard that lusias is a bit run down. Jus heard haven't seen it for myself. Majority of people i've spoken to have enjoyed virgin cove.

Hi Binario, my wife and i flew over to Samoa to get married last December on Upolu's South Coast.

We spent a week there for our honeymoon in a resort called 'Sinalei Reef' it was a dream and both of us could not have been happier!!.
Having spent almost all of our backpacking travels in semi dodgy - very dodgy guest houses ourselves (and loving it!!), we decided to splurge a bit for our wedding/honeymoon and enjoyed absolutely every minute of it!!! You may have to part with maximum budget range though..
As far as getting there at 2:35pm, you wont have to stay in Apia if you dont want to.
We flew into the International airport in Faleolo at around 12:45(am!) and were picked up from the airport by the resorts mini bus at no extra charge.
Samoa may have a dog problem??, but we spent each day on a different part of the island and didn't have any probs with dogs of any kind anywhere. There seemed to be more domesticated pigs running amok on the roads than dogs!
Theft? Well no dramas there either but like any country anywhere when traveling i didn't leave anything valuable lying around and kept a respective eye out for opportunists.
As far as Snorkeling/ Dive/ Surf, id recommend the Samoan L.P (read 'samoas top ten highlights'). We found some really beautiful secluded places all along the South Coast, some we had all to ourselves. I took my surfboard too, the surf was a fairly consistent 4-6 foot most of the time we were there with plenty of breaks all around the island, though the surf will depend on what time of year your there.

Anyways, safe travels and have a great time where ever you end up!!

I prefer Savaii to Upolo - just think it is nicer. You can snorkel and Dive with www.divesavaii.com and stay at www.lelagoto.ws. They were building these a year ago and I don't think they finished before Christmas so they should be still really nice - don't know about the cost though. Also there is no dog problem that I have encountered in 3 trips to Savaii and I haven't had anything stolen despite leaving money etc in my rooms (haven't stayed in beach fales though - more mid range accom)

Thanks all, FYI - we have chosen to stay in the upstairs apartment of beach house at Le Legoto. Cheers